The lawyer for the Menendez brothers claims that their resentencing ignores the brutality of Kitty's execution, stating that it "looked like a mob hit."

Los Angeles prosecutor's decision rejected by Florida counterpart regarding Menendez brothers.

The lawyer for the Menendez brothers claims that their resentencing ignores the brutality of Kitty's execution, stating that it "looked like a mob hit."
The lawyer for the Menendez brothers claims that their resentencing ignores the brutality of Kitty's execution, stating that it "looked like a mob hit."

The Los Angeles district attorney's decision to allow two convicted murderers, the Menendez brothers, to be released from prison despite their life sentences has left a Florida counterpart stunned due to the premeditated brutality they inflicted on their mother.

At 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, 1989, the brothers entered their parents' Beverly Hills mansion and opened fire with shotguns while Jose Menendez and Mary "Kitty" Menendez were enjoying snacks in front of their living room TV.

"According to Palm Beach State's Attorney Dave Aronberg, not enough is being discussed about the murder of Kitty, the Menendez brothers' mother. Aronberg stated that there is no credible allegation that she was engaged in sexual abuse, and based on what is known, both parents were sitting on the couch, backs turned, watching TV and eating ice cream while the two brothers came up behind them and murdered them."

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, right, shakes hands with members of the Menendez family after addressing the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez at a news conference at the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles on Oct. 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

In an announcement on Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, who is facing a re-election in less than two weeks, declared that resentencing is appropriate and vowed to ask a court to make the Menendez brothers immediately eligible for parole.

More than 30 years have passed since they were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the 1989 double murder.

California Menendez Brothers Case
Lyle and Erik Menendez, center, sit with defense attorney Leslie Abramson in Beverly Hills Municipal Court during a hearing, Nov. 26, 1990. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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The siblings, who had killed their father and injured their mother, went outside for more shells and then returned to finish off their mother in a gruesome scene. A forensic investigator later told Planet Chronicle Digital that a detective had to hold up an umbrella to block the blood dripping from the ceiling.

"Aronberg explained to Planet Chronicle Digital why the district attorney took the actions he did regarding the father's murder. The father was accused of sexually abusing the boys, and new evidence has emerged that may support this claim."

He stated that there was nothing to lessen the murder of their mother.

Dr. Robert Lawrence of Stockton, California, holds mannequin illustrating bullet wounds to Kitty Menendez during the Menendez brothers' murder trial in 1995
Dr. Robert Lawrence of Stockton, California, holds a mannequin illustrating the shotgun wounds to Kitty Menendez during the Menendez brothers' second murder trial on Nov. 6, 1995. Sitting on the right is another mannequin illustrating wounds to Jose Menendez. (Boris Yaro/Los Angeles Times)

""Kitty was crawling away, trying to escape, after a mob hit-like scene with so much blood. Lyle Menendez went back to his car, reloaded, and went outside," he continued."

While Joan Andersen VanderMolen, 92, and other family members have advocated for a reduced sentence for Kitty Menendez's killers, Milton Andersen, 90, strongly opposes any leniency.

Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, speaks at a press conference
Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, speaks as family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez, the Beverly Hills brothers convicted of killing their parents, hold a press conference at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2024.   (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Milton Andersen's attorney, Kathleen Cady, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that her client still believes the accusations of molestation were fabricated and false, and that the jury's verdict and sentence were both correct.

Cady said that Gascon repeatedly met with VanderMolen's side but ignored her brother.

"Florida has Marsy's Law, which is also present in California and other states, requiring you to hear out the families. However, you are not obligated to follow their recommendations."

The Grave Of Jose And Kitty Menendez
Snow covers the grave site of Jose and Kitty Menendez on Jan. 10, 1994 in Princeton, New Jersey. (Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images)

Andersen, through his lawyer, has stated that he rejects the defense claims regarding child abuse and concurs with the trial prosecutors, who demonstrated that the brothers spent $700,000 after their parents' passing.

"Cady stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Milton Andersen still believes the molestation claims were fabricated and false, and that the jury's verdict and sentence were correct. He also expressed concern that the Menendez brothers attempted to deceive the court by asking two witnesses to lie on their behalf during the trial."

Menendez family photo from the 1980s
An undated photo of the Menendez family as it appears on-screen during a panel at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 2. The brothers Lyle and Erik were convicted of fatally shooting their parents in 1989. (Michael Ruiz/Planet Chronicle Digital)

Before the parole board could release them, the parole board would need to approve their resentencing, which would require court approval.

The team of Andersen is requesting the court to reject the resentencing, and, in court documents, it is stated that the brothers attempted to persuade two friends to give false testimony on their behalf during the trial.

Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing
Erik Menendez, left, and his brother Lyle listen during a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 29, 1992 in Los Angeles after the two pleaded innocent in the August 1989 shotgun deaths of their wealthy parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, California. (Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)

Under current California law, new sentences of 50 years to life would immediately make them eligible for a parole hearing because they were under 26 years old at the time of the murders.

Gascon rejected the argument that the father's abuse could have led the brothers to commit manslaughter instead of murder during his briefing on Thursday. He stated that the premeditation involved was too strong for that defense.

""I believe that they have served their time and have paid their debt to society," he said."

In less than two weeks, Gascon will be up for re-election and will face a tough competition from Nathan Hochman, an ex-federal prosecutor who is running as an independent candidate.

Some have characterized his participation in the high-profile case as a desperate political maneuver.

Recent documentaries, including one on FOX Nation, have brought new attention to the case of the brothers, resulting in some public support for their release. Additionally, the defense presented two new pieces of evidence that could support the brothers' claim that their father was a child molester.

Planet Chronicle' Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.

by Michael Ruiz,Julia Bonavita

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